Shaping Futures: Boston City Campus Empowers Tomorrow’s Secondary School Teachers Through Its New Postgraduate Certificate in Education
Teaching is more than a profession. It is a calling that shapes both the teacher’s journey and the learner’s future. It is about nurturing potential, shaping young minds, and changing lives.
With the launch of its new Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Senior Phase (SP) and Further Education and Training (FET) Teaching (SAQA ID 122865, NQF Level 7, Credits 132), Boston City Campus invites graduates to turn their existing undergraduate expertise into impact; to teach, to guide, and to build South Africa’s future one classroom at a time.
A Qualification with Purpose
If you have ever considered becoming a teacher, there has never been a better time to step forward. South Africa needs subject specialists who can educate, motivate, and equip the next generation with the knowledge and skills to shape their own futures. There are two primary routes to entering the teaching profession in South Africa. One is through a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree, which integrates subject knowledge and teaching methodology over a four-year period. The other, aimed at those who already hold a relevant degree or an approved 360-credit diploma, is the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).
The Boston PGCE (SP and FET Teaching) is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time professional preparation qualification that forms part of South Africa’s initial teacher education landscape. Designed for graduates with suitably aligned degrees or diplomas in business, management, commerce, science, mathematics, technology, or the humanities, the Boston programme provides a bridge between subject expertise and the professional knowledge, skills, and practice needed to teach effectively in today’s diverse secondary school classrooms.
On successful completion of the programme, you will be able to register with the South African Council for Educators (SACE) and begin your career as a qualified teacher in the Senior Phase (Grades 7–9) and Further Education and Training Phase (Grades 10–12).
Teaching Specialisations
As part of the Boston PGCE (SP and FET Teaching), you will choose two teaching specialisations: one in the Senior Phase (Grades 7-9) and one in the Further Education and Training Phase (Grades 10-12). Choices will depend on the subjects covered in your undergraduate degree or diploma. The following teaching specialisations are available for qualifying candidates:
| Senior Phase Subject/Specialisation (select one*) | Further Education and Training Subject/Specialisation (select one*) |
|---|---|
| Economic and Management Sciences |
Accounting |
| Social Sciences |
Geography |
| Mathematics | Mathematics |
| Life Orientation | Life Orientation |
| Technology |
Computer Applications Technology |
*Note: SP and FET specialisation choices must fall in the same specialisation area, e.g., Economic and Management Sciences for SP and Business Studies for FET.
The Heart and Mind of Teaching
At Boston, we believe excellent teaching begins with both the heart and the mind. The PGCE (SP and FET Teaching) recognises teaching as an intellectual pursuit and a relational profession. It is not only about mastering your subject but about learning how to bring that knowledge to life for every learner.
Through modules covering the foundations of education, diversity and inclusive education, professional ethics in teaching, and teaching and learning strategies, you will explore what motivates learners, how to design effective lessons, and how to create inclusive and supportive classroom environments. You will learn to teach with insight and understanding.
Learning to Teach, Teaching to Learn: The Teaching Practice Experience
Teaching cannot be mastered in theory alone; it takes real classrooms and real learners. Through Teaching Practice (TP), Boston’s PGCE (SP and FET Teaching) provides student teachers with the opportunity to experience the rhythm and reality of school life first-hand.
You will spend eight weeks (two four-week blocks) in classrooms, working with learners. During this time, you will observe experienced teachers, apply what you’ve learned in your modules to design and deliver your own lessons, manage classrooms effectively, and engage in school life. By the end of TP, you will understand that teaching is a continuous learning journey that begins with your first lesson and continues throughout your teaching career.
Flexible, Accessible, and Future Focused
In a world where flexibility and innovation are essential to success, Boston delivers its PGCE (SP and FET Teaching) in a way that meets the needs of South African students and schools. Boston recognises that today’s students often balance multiple responsibilities, including work, family, and personal commitments. That is why the programme is delivered through Open Distance e-Learning (ODeL), giving you flexibility, while staying connected to a structured academic pathway that keeps you on track.
You will access all your materials through Boston’s Learning Management System (LMS), available online 24/7, complete with filmed lectures, assessments, and a digital library. Boston’s educators provide regular contact and guidance, complemented by 50 Learner Support Centres (LSCs) across all nine provinces, ensuring you are close to support or essential resources.
Your Pathway to Becoming a Professional Educator
The PGCE (SP and FET Teaching) takes the knowledge you’ve already built in your undergraduate studies and channels it into subject specialisations that align with South Africa’s national school curriculum—preparing you to teach with confidence and purpose.
By way of example, if you’ve completed one of Boston City Campus’s undergraduate programmes, you may already have the ideal foundation for the PGCE (SP and FET Teaching). These include:
Each of these qualifications provides the depth of disciplinary knowledge needed for specialisation in the Senior Phase (Grades 7-9) and the FET Phase (Grades 10-12), particularly in key subjects like business, economics, accounting, and technology.
The Boston Difference
Boston City Campus holds international accreditation from the British Accreditation Council (BAC) and is a member of the Association of African Universities (AAU). It became the first South African private higher education institution to receive accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), USA, for several business qualifications, including the Bachelor of Accounting and the Bachelor of Commerce in Management Marketing degrees.
These accreditations and affiliations underscore our dedication to academic excellence, ethical standards, and student achievement. Our PGCE (SP and FET Teaching) is registered with and recognised as an Initial Teacher Education (ITE) qualification by the Department of Higher Education and Training for employment in the education sector. It is also accredited by the Council on Higher Education.
Start Your Teaching Journey Today
South Africa needs passionate, knowledgeable teachers, and your expertise could be exactly what the next generation needs. Shape your future and help Grade 7-12 learners shape theirs!